Washing machine



Ja n. 11, 1927 1,613,787

A. W. BURKE WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2l, 1921 [N VENTO R A TTORNE Y5- Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

1 v 1,613,787 PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED W. BURKE, OF PELHAM MANOR, NEW 1 WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed December 21, 1921. Serial a... 523,820;

My invention relates to an improvement in washing machines and an ob ect thereof is to improve and simplify the construction of washing machines as now construetedand to increase their efliciency.

In general, my improvedfldevice comprises an apparatus wherein a Va'uum or reduced pressure is employed to agitate theclothes or other articles to be washed.

In the accompanying drawings, I

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of my improved device in part sectional elevation; and

Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation of a modified form thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail,-1

-designates what I shall hereinafter refer to as a main tank which is provided with a cover 2 adapted to be secured thereto by any suitable means such as quick acting clamps 3 for example. The cover is substantially an air-tight fit. The bottom of the tank is provided with perforations as indicated at 4 for a purpose to be better pointed out hereafter. legs 5 within an auxiliary tank 6 and in spaced relation thereto, the. auxiliary tank being supported as upon legs 7 or in any other suitable manner. Mounted adjacent the main tank, in the present instance upon a bracket 8 secured to the side of the auxiliary tank 6 is a motor 9 for driving a vacuum fan 10. Connected to the intake side of this fan is a pi e 11 passing into or through the wall of t e main tank 1 so as to be in communication with the interior thereof. The vacuum apparatus is provided with a return side 12 here shown as a pipe, this pipe communicating with the auxiliary tank 6 at some point below the level of the device 10. For convenience I have shown the return pipe 12 entering the auxiliary tank 6 at a point adjacent the bottom thereof.

In operation the water is placed in the tank 6 and flows through the perforations 4 in the bottom of the tank 1 until the desure within the main tank causes a rise in the level of the water in the tank 1, water flowing from the tank 6 until the level of the water in the latter is adjacent the bottom The tank 1 is mounted on' REISSUED of the main tank. Of course this reduction in pressure causes great agitation in the tank 1 due to air being drawn out of the water and this agitation continues due to air being constantly drawn from the atmosphere through the Water in the main tank. I preferably apply the vacuum intermittently by intermittent operation of the motor 9 so that at certain intervals the body of water in the main tank will rise and fall due to the intermittent application of the vacuum, this surging efl'ecting further agitation of the articles being Washed. The combined action of the air passing through and around the articles being washed and the surging of the water in the main tank efiect the desired cleansing. Any wateror suds which may be drawn into the device 10 will be returned to the auxiliary tank 6 by way of the return pipe 12. In this way after the machine is filled to' the desired degree with water no further attention need held in place by' quick acting-clamps 16. 1

This tank is mounted upon legs 17 within an auxiliary tank 18 similar to the tank'6 of Fig. 1. The interior of the main tank 13 is provided with a trap 19 for sediment, this trap comprising a baflie 20 at the bot- .tom of the tank to one side of the perforations 14, the upper edge of this bafile being spaced a short distance from the bottom of the tank. Extending from the upper edge of the baffle 20 to the side of the tank 13 is a plate 21 perforated as indicated at 22.

of a compartment or chamber which I have referred to above as a trap for sediment and whiclrI have designated 19. Leading from this trap is a pipe 23 conveniently controlled by a valve 24 by which the sediment in the trap may be withdrawn.

Mounted upon one wall of the tank 18 is a bracket 25 supporting a motor 26 provided forthe purpose of driving a: vacuum fan 27. The intake side of this fan is connected to the interior of the tank 13 by a pipe 28 while the return side is connected 13. As these perforations are at one side of the tank 13 the .air being drawn through the perforations will tend to upset the articles being washed, thereby insuring a very thorough agitation of these, articles.

The sediment from the clothes or other articles being washed settles inthe trap 19 passing into this trap through the perforations 22. In this arrangement of course the suds and water which are drawn into the fan 27 arereturned to the tank 18 by way of the return pipe 29 so that it is unnecessary to refill the tank 18 until the washing operation is completed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a machine :for washing purposes wherein a reduction in pressure or partial vacuum within the tank containing the articles to be washed is relied upon for .eflecting the desired agitation of the articles being washed and that for this reason the wear and tear on these articles is very much reduced as compared with the mechanical devices now employed.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention it is to be understood, however, thatchanges may be made in the details thereof within the purview of my invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, an auxiliary tank, a main tank disposed therein and in spaced relation thereto, one wall of said inain tank being perforated, a bracket carried by the auxiliary tank, a motor supported on said bracket, a vacuum fan driven by said motor, the intake side of said fan being in com munication with the interior of said main tank and the return side of said fan being and means for establishing,communication between the intake side of said fan and the interior of said main tank and between the return side of said fan and the interior of said auxiliary tank.

3. In combination, an open auxiliary tank containing a liquid, a main tank within said auxiliary tank and in spaced relation thereto, the bottom of said main tank .being provided with perforations, a bracket carried by said auxiliary tank, a motor supported on said bracket, a vacuum fan connected to said motor, a pipe leading from said fan to the interior of said main tank and an additional pipe leading from said fan to the interior of said auxiliary tank whereby air' may be drawn through the liquid in the auxiliary tank and through the perforations in the main tankv and through the liquid in said main tank, any liquid passing to said fan being returned to said auxiliary tank. I 4 This specification signed this 17th day of December, 1921.

' ALFRED W. BURKE. 

